Friday - Punch List & Memo to Italian Winemakers

-The inland Tuscans are more provincial about wine tastes than one might imagine

-While the US will probably become the largest market for Italy, maybe even larger than their domestic market, it probably will not include all the indigenous grape wines. So the Merlot and Cab and PG and Chianti and so on will grow, while the auchtochtono will be a challenge, even while interest in that area is growing.

- Sicily is a strong #3 for production, as long as the pricing doesn't go crazy.

- The US market will get more generic as quality of entry level wines continue to improve.

-Falanghina will be the southern Italian white that grows in the low end, Fiano in the high end.

-Wine consultants will downplay their role while continuing to push for MOx'd and cryo-mace'd in the production of inexpensive wines (although the pricing might not reflect that reality).

-Large retailers in the US will ape the Australian model when it comes to their exclusive labels; i.e. , Euro$2.30 a bottle ex cellar = 9.99 retail (at a minimum).

-$80.00+ SuperTuscan “internationals” will go the way of barrique aged Barberas. Inotherwords, they will be going away.

-Sicilians will get a major lesson in line extensions in the next 3 years. They will not be trading in their Ferraris every 2-3 years.

-America is going green and organic and simple. Less is more, small is beautiful, voluntary simplicity will be the new gold coast for wine marketers.

-Trendy oggi - finished domani.

-Young people will want simple, affordable, easy to digest wines that will fit their low-carbon imprint aspirations. Don't come to work the market with your $400.00 dolce and gabbana shades and expect a lot of sympathy (or co-operation) when you continue to raise prices to subsidize a trendy, materialistic and selfcentered narcissistic lifestyle. America is entering a new age of austerity, with or without your wines.

-Start talking to the old people of your country before they die. Get their stories, learn their ways. Park your Vespa.

About Me

Writing about Italian wine and culture. Moving between Italy and America. Passionate about both of my countries. Fed by the energy of Italy, California and Texas. Drawn to the open spaces of America and the small vineyards of Italy.
@italianwineguy
ItalianWineTrail@yahoo[dot]com